Eat more greens for a healthy gut

Did you know that we have trillions of bacteria living in our gut? In fact, we have more bacteria in our gut than we have cells in our bodies. 

The amount (and type) of bacteria, also known as gut microbiota, can affect everything from your mood to your digestion. ¹ 

Probiotic “friendly” bacteria help keep your gut healthy by preventing the growth of unfriendly bacteria, which have been linked to health problems, including food allergies and inflammatory bowel disease. ² 

Gut bacteria also play a key role in your digestive health and immune system. In addition, research suggests there may be a link between gut microbiota and body weight, as well as glucose regulation, factors that impact long-term health. ^3,4 

Help your good gut bacteria thrive  

The balance of bacteria in your gut can be easily disrupted by things like stress, poor diet, illness, and drugs (like antibiotics). 

Eating more produce, ranging from fruit to green vegetables (like leeks and asparagus) encourages the growth of good gut bacteria and better health outcomes. ⁵ These vegetables (and other foods like bananas, onions, and artichokes) contain a type of fiber called prebiotic fiber, which helps probiotic bacteria thrive.   

Green vegetables are also a good source of dietary fiber, which keeps the digestive system healthy by promoting bowel regularity. Bacteria in the colon digest fiber by producing short-chain fatty acids (sometimes called postbiotics), which helps keep the cells in the colon healthy and stimulates the growth of good bacteria. 

Emerging research suggests postbiotics may also help with control of glucose. ⁶ So, just one more reason to eat your greens.  

A final note from Lingo 

The bacteria living in your gut play a role in many areas of health, so keeping them happy can provide many benefits. Eating plenty of plant foods can provide the fiber needed to bolster probiotic bacteria and support gut health. 

A continuous glucose monitor (CGM) like Lingo can help you see how eating different plant foods and fiber affects your glucose levels. You can use the personal data these devices provide to work out which foods might work for keeping your glucose steady. 

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